Welcome back to our #womanoftheweek! Today we will be discussing Harriet Tubman, a Black Abolitionist! Enjoy!
Harriet Tubman is an iconic leader in ending slavery and rights for African American individuals. However, many do not know about her history and how her childhood influenced her drive to help others. She was raised during a period of Revivalism in American History. It ran from 1795-1835, and aimed to Increase church membership (Meyer 163). Preachers went across US states to gain new members through evangelical Christianity (Meyer 156). Her mother raised “Minty” as a Methodist (Larson 22). Many of the times African culture and Christianity would be intertwined (Meyer 157). This would have a large impact on her later life.
Her formal name was Araminta Ross (Humez and Andrews 12). Her parents were Ben Ross and Harriet Green (Humez and Andrews 12). As a large family, she was one of Eleven children. Her first “job” was at age 5, when she was hired to care for an infant (Humez and Andrews 13). She was repeatedly hired to do similar housework tasks (Humez and Andrews 14). Many of these jobs required her to stay away from her mother (Humez and Andrews 11).
An injury left permanent physical damage, and would give her vivid hallucinations (usually about Christianity) (Humez and Andrews 15). She was diagnosed with Narcolepsy (Humez and Andrews 15), which is a sleeping disorder that causes random sleep disturbances. Her “trances” helped her connect to God and talk to Him (Humez and Andrews 16).
Around 11 and 12, her body was strong enough to handle physical labor rather than house chores (Humez and Andrews 13-14). When she was at the grocery store to pick an item up, she witnessed a tussle between a fugitive slave and his master (Humez and Andrews 13-14). She intercepted herself between the two and allowed the fugitive slave to escape (Humez and Andrews 13-14). The master attempted to throw an iron bar at the fugitive slave, but it accidentally hit Harriet instead (Humez and Andrews 13-14). This was around the time where she strengthened her religion.
In 1844, she married John Tubman, who was a free man at the time (Campbell 56). Roughly fifty percent of the African American population was free at the time (Campbell 56). Marriage was rocky for them, and they would soon separate.
In 1849, there were rumors that her two brothers were about to be sold (Larson 105). Her family refuses to leave, so she runs away herself (Larson 105). She ran from her plantation in Maryland all the way to Pennsylvania (Larson 106). Later, she worked as a maid in Pennsylvania, but isn’t satisfied with her occupation since she has left her family behind (Larson 110). She decides to help her sister and two children run away as well (Larson 111). This is the first time she coined the term “Underground Railroad”.
She was called “Moses of Her People” (Larson 263). She was a conductor for the Underground Railroad as well. The 1850 Fugitive Slave Act ensured that she could be captured at any time, even if she was in the Northern States (Campbell 54). She Carried a gun with her for 1.) protection and 2.) subdue anyone having doubts about running away (Dudley 30-35). She also would Cover up children’s cries so they wouldn’t stir up slave catchers (Dudley 30-35). These great lengths proved Harriet Tubman as a brave individual. Hallucinations told her omens and stories from God (Larson 280). To repeat, they came from the head injury she received when she was a teenager. God was telling her to free the enslaved, and that she did. (Larson 281). Her impacts on the Underground Railroad would never be forgotten.
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